Mould and mould spores in a building in Northwich

In our latest project, we have been commissioned to assess the indoor air quality of a work premises and to assess the dangers of fungal spores in the building. Many types of fungal spores can be hazardous to the health, so it was particularly important to assess the impact that the mould was having on the indoor air quality. Our task was to evaluate the extent of the mould contamination, the root cause of the mould, and whether the mould spores were a threat to the health of the employees.

Our initial investigation of the property revealed that there was a lot of moisture within the building. After carrying out the damp inspection, we noted that the property was suffering from a high amount of dampness and flooding was present within the basement. It was clear that the dampness was the most likely cause of the mould within the property.

With regards to the mould spores, staff working within close proximity to the mould contamination had notified us that they had been suffering from coughing and mild throat irritations, potentially as a result of the fungal spores. In addition, employees noted that there was a strong odour around the building. In order to assess the severity of the mould problem, we took several mould spore samples to see what mould was in the building and what fungal spores were being released. Mould spore analysis confirmed that the mould was predominantly made up of Penicillium and Aspergillus species. After considering the levels of the identified moulds and the general state of the building, it was concluded that the spores had come from inside the building as a result of damp.

Our damp survey has confirmed that the basement was the main part of the problem. In order to address the damp in the basement, we recommended several remediation measures such as the installation of a sump pump to control the ingress of water and sterilization of internal surfaces. As an additional recommendation, we suggested that an active ventilation fan would aid the drying of the basement. With regards to preventative measures, we recommended that areas with mould be treated with a water resistant coating and an antifungal treatment to kill the mould and help to slow its return. By remediating the basement and installing a sump pump, we had reduced the dampness in the property and helped to address the source of the mould. By addressing the sources of the moisture problem in the building, we reduced the amount of mould that would be produced and helped to increase the overall air quality of the building

Post byTomas Gabor

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